Copper bearing alloy

ABSTRACT

Copper bearing alloy comprises more than 4% by weight and up to 35% by weight of Bi, 0.2 to less than 1.5% by weight of Pb and the rest of Cu. This considerably improves the erosion resistance while maintaining the excellent seizure resistance and fatigue strength.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to copper bearing alloy, and more particularly, to copper bearing alloy containing Pb.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRIOR ART

Cu-Pb bearing alloy is known in the art, as is Cu-Pb bearing alloy which also contains Bi (see Japanese Patent Publications No. 36,415/1978, No. 9,295/1974 and No. 47,284/1978).

Cu-Pb bearing alloy generally exhibits excellent seizure resistance and fatigue strength, but is subject to an erosion of Pb layer as the lubricant used becomes degraded, with a consequent likelihood of causing a seizure or abnormal abrasion.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention contemplates to provide copper bearing alloy having improved erosion resistance while maintaining the seizure resistance and fatigue strength.

Thus, copper bearing alloy according to the invention comprises more than 4% and up to 35% by weight of Bi, 0.2 to less than 1.5% by weight of Pb and the rest of Cu.

According to the invention, at least one of 0.1 to 5% by weight of Sn, 0.1 to 1% by weight of Zn, 0.1 to 1% by weight of Si, 0.1 to 1% by weight of Sb, 0.01 to 1% by weight of P and 0.1 to 5% by weight of Ni may be added to the above composition.

In accordance with the invention, the erosion resistance is improved by substituting Bi which exhibits an excellent erosion resistance for Pb which is problematic in respect of erosion resistance. However, when Bi is completely substituted for Pb, the compatibility and the seizure resistance will be degraded, and accordingly such degradation is prevented by leaving a smaller addition of Pb.

In accordance with the invention, the amount of Bi added exceeds 4% by weight, but is limited to 35% by weight. Below 4% by weight, the seizure resistance will be insufficient while if the limit of 35% by weight is exceeded, the strength will be degraded, resulting in a degradation of both the seizure resistance and the fatigue strength. A preferred range of addition is from 15 to 25% by weight.

The amount of Pb added is in a range from 0.2 to less than 1.5% by weight. Below 0.2% by weight, there is no addition effect while above 1.5% by weight, the melting point of Bi will be lowered to degrade the heat resistance as well as the erosion resistance. A more preferred range is from 1 to 1.4% by weight.

The purpose of adding one or more of Sn, Zn, Si, Sb, P and Ni as required is to strengthen Cu matrix to improve the fatigue strength. The amount of Sn, Ni added is each in a range from 0.1 to 5% by weight while the amount of Zn, Si, Sb and P added is each in a range from 0.1 to 1% by weight, and the amount of P added is in a range from 0.01 to 1% by weight.

Each of such additions will produce no addition effect if the amount of addition is less than the minimum limit, while if the upper limit is exceeded, Cu matrix becomes hardened and brittle. Since a slight amount of Sn becomes admixed with Bi to lower its melting temperature, it cannot be added in a significant amount, Zn, Si, P and Ni has the effect of improving the erosion resistance and heat resistance by alloying with Cu. In addition, Sb strengthens Cu matrix and becomes dissolved into Bi, and hence it cannot be added in a significant amount because it causes a brittling of Bi.

A preferred amount of Sn, Zn, Si, Sb, P and Ni added is from 1 to 3% by weight for Sn, from 0.5 to 0.7% by weight for Zn, from 0.3 to 0.5% by weight for Si, from 0.3 to 0.5% by weight for Sb, from 0.05 to 0.5% by weight for P and from 1 to 3% by weight for Ni.

BEST FORMS TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

Alloy powder or component powder are blended together in a required proportions and the entire composition is adjusted to respective component proportion given in Table 1. Subsequently, the powder is dispersed on an iron plate to sinter at a temperature from 700° to 850° C. Subsequently, the assembly is rolled down to remove voids, and is then re-sintered. Such bimetal is stamped or cut out to provide test pieces each having a cross sectional area of 2 cm². Samples 1 to 25 thus manufactured according to the invention and controls A to E which are manufactured under corresponding conditions are subjected to the following test conditions to determine an erosion diminution, seizure load and fatigue surface pressure.

Erosion Test Conditions

A test piece is immersed in an aged oil at a temperature of 150° C., and air is blown into the air to boil the test piece in oil for 200 hours while stirring the oil, thus determining an erosion diminution.

Seizure Test Conditions

A testing machine of pin-on-disc type

Disc: S55C hardened plate

Test piece: Mounted on a pin which is located 50 mm away from the center of the disc.

Peripheral speed: 10 m/sec

Load: starting the test from a load of 20 kg, and subsequently the load is incrementally increased by 20 kg per 20 minutes.

Lubricant: 10W-30 sprayed

Spray atmosphere temperature of lubricant: 30° C.

Fatigue Test Conditions

Reciprocating load fatigue testing machine

Number of revolutions: 2500 to 3500 rpm

Oil temperature: 140° C.

Lubricant: 10W-30 SD

A maximum surface pressure is obtained which exhibits no fatigue after 10⁷ cycles.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________                                                   Fatigue                                                           Erosion      surface                                                           diminution                                                                           Seizure load                                                                          pressure                         No.      Cu Bi Pb Sn                                                                               Zn Si                                                                               Sb                                                                               P  Ni (mg)  (kg/cm.sup.2)                                                                         (kg/cm.sup.2)                    __________________________________________________________________________     Samples                                                                               1 Bal.                                                                              5  0.8               0.1   180    800                              according                                                                             2 "  10 1.45              0.1   200    800                              to the                                                                                3 "  15 1.0               2.0   240    750                              invention                                                                             4 "  25 0.2               2.7   240    550                                     5 "  35 1.0               5.1   340    550                                     6 "  4.1                                                                               1.0            0.5                                                                               0.8   180    850                                     7 "  5  1.2                                                                               5    1         0.8   200    1000                                    8 "  5  1.2                                                                               5    0.5    1  0.8   180    1150                                    9 "  10 0.2         0.5   2.1   220    850                                    10 "  10 0.5                                                                               1        0.5   1.9   240                                           11 "  10 0.5            5  2.0   240    1050                                   12 "  10 1.45                                                                              2        0.1                                                                               5  2.1   240    1150                                   13 "  15 0.5                                                                               0.5                                                                              0.5                                                                               0.5                                                                              0.5  0.1                                                                               2.1   240                                           14 "  15 0.9            1  2.0   240    800                                    15 "  15 1.0                                                                               2              2.2   280    850                                    16 "  15 1.0                                                                               2    0.5       2.2   280                                           17 "  15 1.0                                                                               3           0.5                                                                               2.3   280    950                                    18 "  15 1.0         0.5                                                                               0.5                                                                               2.0   280                                           19 "  15 1.45                                                                              0.1                                                                              0.2                                                                               0.2                                                                              0.2                                                                              0.1   2.4   300                                           20 "  25 1.0                                                                               0.1         3  2.5   280    700                                    21 "  25 1.2                                                                               3        0.01  2.6   300    750                                    22 "  25 1.45           0.1                                                                               3.0   320                                           23 "  35 0.2                                                                               5        0.5                                                                               2  5.0   280    850                                    24 "  35 0.8       0.5     4.8   320    600                                    25 "  35 1.45           4.0                                                                               320   850                                     Controls                                                                             A  Bal.                                                                              10 10                58    200    650                                    B  "     30 5              127   320    700                                    C  "     30 5        0.05  130   320                                           D  "  10 10 2              30    240                                           E  "  3  20 5      0.5     18    280    900                              __________________________________________________________________________

From the results of the test shown in Table 1, it is seen that the erosion diminution of all the samples according to the invention are considerably improved over the controls, thus exhibiting an excellent erosion resistance. In samples 1 to 5, it is noted that while an increased addition to Bi improves the seizure resistance, it tends to reduce the fatigue strength. However, when one or more of Sn, Zn, Si, Sb, P and Ni is added, the fatigue strength can be improved by suppressing or compensating for the tendency to decrease. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Copper bearing alloy consisting of more than 4% by weight and up to 35% by weight of Bi, 0.2 to less than 1.5% by weight of Pb and the rest of Cu.
 2. Copper bearing alloy consisting of more than 4% by weight of up to 35% by weight of Bi, 0.2 to less than 1.5% by weight of Pb, at least one of from 0.1 to 5% by weight of Sn, from 0.1 to 1% by weight of Zn, from 0.1 to 1% by weight of Si, from 0.1 to 1% by weight of Sb, from 0.01 to 1% by weight of P, and from 0.1 to 5% by weight of Ni and the remainder Cu.
 3. Copper bearing alloy consisting of more than 4% by weight and up to 35% by weight of Bi, 0.2 to less than 1.5% by weight of Pb, at least one of from 1 to 3% by weight of Sn, from 0.5 to 0.7% by weight of Zn, from 0.3 to 0.5% by weight of Si, from 0.3 to 0.5% by weight of Sb, from 0.05 to 0.5% by weight of P, and from 1 to 3% by weight of Ni and the remainder Cu. 